shawn's pov:
i run. i run as fast as i can. i run straight there. i slam the door open and she's sitting there playing a board game. her and riley look up from the shock of the door slamming and she looks at me. she can tell i know, but we just look at each other, not moving. she's fine. she looks fine. nothings wrong with her. she's fine. maya's fine.
"hey." she says, "wanna play?" and she smiles. its not real though. i can tell.
"maya…" i say.
"i don't want to talk about it." she replies, cutting me off.
"MAYA." i repeat.
"DON'T" she shouts, and runs off crying to riley room.
"i'll go." riley says, getting up.
"please," i say, "let me." i can her katy running up the stairs behind me but i go to riley's room anyway.
she is sitting with her knees to her chest in the bay window of riley's bedroom, she's looking out of the window at the city. she is crying; i've never seen her cry like this before. not sad tears. i stand watching her and i don't think she can see me until,
"i didn't want you to know." she said, "you were the only one i wanted to protect."
"what, maya?" i say sitting down in the window.
"it's not fair." she says and she continues to cry. i lean forward and grab hold of her. i am never letting go, not for anything. we just sit there, we sit there in silence.
"shawn?"
"yes maya."
"this didn't happen to you did it?"
"what?"
"we are so alike, i'm you in girl form. runaway parents, messy lives, you know." she says, wiping her eyes, breaking free from my grasp and sitting up, putting her knees down.
"yeah i do."
"well did you get… cancer?" she asks and she starts crying.
"… no." i say and this time she hugs me.
"shawn?"
"yes maya?"
"did you ever see your mum after she left?" she asks.
"no."
"okay." she replies.
"did he look like you?"
"what?" she asks pulling away.
"your dad, did he look like you?"
"he's not my dad…" she replies and turns around to look out the window, "you are."
